Plainfield and Naperville Real Estate News and Local Happenings

Experienced Short Sale Agent in Plainfield IL | Plainfield IL Homes

Julie Ferenzi (CENTURY 21 Hometown) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:14:30 -0500

There are no guarantees when it comes to short sales, but I've got an excellent record of having my short sales get approved. I hire professionals to negotiate my short sales and work hard to make sure my sellers have the best opportunity to avoid having a foreclosure, and to keep from having their defaulted loan affect their credit any further.

Short sales in Plainfield IL take anywhere from 3-6 months to get bank approval. My quickest response being just 4 weeks, while my longest negotiation took just over 6 months. Negotiations not only depend on the lender, but also on the individual investor who financed the loan through the mortgage servicer.

I take the stress of facing foreclosure off the shoulders of homeowners. There are no guarantees in dealing with short sales, but I've got a great record. With the exception of one home in Oak Park, I've gotten approvals on every short sale listing I've ever taken. The only reason the home in Oak Park did not close was due to zoning and appraisal issue with the village, that ultimately prevented the sale.

I have a system that takes the guess work out of getting the bank to see the value in accepting less than what is owed to them vs. waiting until an auction date is set, especially in the Midwest where winter can reek havoc in a non-winterized property that sits vacant through harsh climates like here in the Plainfield IL area.

Call me at 630-673-6233 to confidentially discuss your situation. Feel free to ask questions and see if a short sale makes sense for you and your family. I'm here to help, and I have answers for those tough questions.

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield IL Homes for Sale
630-673-6233

Time is running out! First time buyers credit expires on November 30th | Plainfield IL Homes for Sale

Julie Ferenzi (CENTURY 21 Hometown) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 21:23:26 -0500

Time is running out in Plainfield IL for buyers to take advantage of the first time buyers tax credit of up to $8,000. If you are a first time home buyer you need to close by November 30th, 2009. This poses a big problem for buyers that are tangled up in short sales because there is no guarantee of if and when those contracts will close.

The inventory of homes available has dramatically decreased in the last 3 months since the details of the first time buyers tax credit were announced, but there are still great opportunities for home ownership available.

I can help you take advantage of the first time buyers tax credit by searching for homes that are not short sales and that are available for a quick close in Plainfield IL, by sellers who are motivated for an offer on their property! I’m clearing my schedule for qualified buyers to take advantage of this amazing opportunity before time runs out.

Call me today so you can get into your new home in Plainfield IL by November 30th… and get your first time home buyers $8,000 tax credit!

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield IL Homes for Sale
630-673-6233

The Pain Behind a Short Sale | Plainfield IL Homes for Sale

Julie Ferenzi (CENTURY 21 Hometown) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 22:50:47 -0500

Ugh, I HATE short sales… and no, it’s not because of the all the extra paperwork or problems that come with the process. It’s heartbreaking to see families have to leave their homes behind and start over.

I have 5 kids, and because of what I do, I lay awake every night wondering what we would do if we had to pack up everything we have, and give up everything my husband and I have worked for simply because our house was no longer worth what we paid for it, and we could no longer afford it.

I have listed 4 homes this year for friends who are behind in their payments. Friends, who 18 months ago… would never have imagined themselves in this situation.

A few months ago my daughter and I watched the American Girl movie, Kitt Kittridge, about the Great Depression. I had no idea at the time that was exactly the future we were facing, but it’s very real.

Children my kids went to school with last year won’t be returning to their schools this year. This is incredibly sad. Neighbors are abandoning their homes. My subdivision is lonely, and it’s all because the government screwed up.

When this all started last year, I was bitter because I thought that short sales were the “get out of jail free” card that homeowners who “bit off more than they could chew” were getting away with, but that view point has changed dramatically over the last few months.

I’ve been showing homes for the last 3 months to buyers and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to not notice the personal touch of happier times of these abandoned homes.

Sports themed or Disney Princess decorated bedrooms, abandoned toys, swing sets in the back yard… and of course, the family portraits. That’s what kills me the most. I can only imagine the pain contained with the walls I am peddling.

“The American Dream”. Abandoned. Given up on.

I never finished college, although I’m close, I always imagined myself in a position of helping others. By doing short sales, I give people hope in getting closure in their current financial situations… and I do it with compassion.

If you are behind in payments, I can help… and I can do it with dignity! Call me.

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield IL Homes for Sale
630-673-6233

43% of all Joliet IL home sales in the last 30 days were short sales or foreclosures | Joliet IL Homes

Julie Ferenzi (CENTURY 21 Hometown) — Mon, 25 May 2009 22:47:43 -0500

There were 60 home sales in Joliet IL over the last 30 days. Of those 60 homes that sold 43% of them were short sale or REO properties.

The difference in the number between short sales and bank owned properties in Joliet IL is somewhat alarming. 40% of the homes were actual bank owned foreclosure sales, while only 3% of those sales were short sales.

The discrepancy in this number can either be attributed in the difficulty of getting a short sale accepted by the lender, or because more and more homeowners are simply walking away or giving up on trying to avoid a foreclosure.

The range in home prices that closed in Joliet IL over the last 30 days was $26,500 - $479,000

If you are looking for a home in the northwest side of Joliet IL, call me at 630-673-6233. I can help you get the best deal on a new Joliet IL home with my experience of the current real estate market, including my experience with short sales.

If you own a home in Joliet IL and you are behind in payments, call me about doing a short sale on your home at no cost to you to avoid a foreclosure.

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Joliet IL Homes
630-673-6233

51% of Plainfield IL home sales in the last 30 days were short sales or foreclosures | Plainfield IL Homes

Julie Ferenzi (CENTURY 21 Hometown) — Mon, 25 May 2009 22:07:27 -0500

The Plainfield IL home sales for the last 30 days from April 15th, 2009 through May 15th 2009 are now more than 50% short sales or foreclosure sales.

That's great news for buyers... but it's bad news for the economy and the real estate market in general. It means things aren't getting any better for homeowners in foreclosure, and homeowners who are current on their mortgages are losing the value of their homes at warp speed.

42 of the 82 homes sold were either foreclosed or bank owned homes, or short sales.

The price of homes sold in the last 30 days ranged in price from $119,000 to $430,255. Surprisingly the home that sold for $119,000 wasn't actually a distressed property. It was a small 2 bedroom ranch, sold by a motivated seller. The bulk of the short sale and bank owned properties that sold were definitely in the lower end of the price range, and the homes that sold in the higher price brackets were regular residential home sales, which makes sense.

Buyers have a great opportunity to purchase a lot of home for the money in Plainfield IL right now. The downside to making an offer on a bank owned home or a short sale listing is that there are often multiple offers on these homes, (especially the ones in great condition) and the wait time on a response for a short sale can take anywhere from 4-10 weeks to get approved.

There is definitely an upside to buying a foreclosure or short sale is priceless in a market like this. Buying below market value, while prices are still declining, offers a little more protection from depreciation than paying retail prices. The biggest difference will be in the amount of work you may need to put into the house to make it compare to some of the retail priced homes.

If you want to buy a home in Plainfield IL and are interested in purchasing a short sale or bank owned home, call me at 630-673-6233. It's important to work with an agent that not only has performed short sales, but understands the process involved.

Call me at 630-673-6233 and I can put you in touch with my mortgage broker who can help you determine what kind of a loan you qualify for.

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield IL Homes for Sale
630-673-6233

Plainfield IL Spring Fest 2009 | Living In Plainfield

Julie Ferenzi (CENTURY 21 Hometown) — Thu, 14 May 2009 00:12:11 -0500

This weekend is the Plainfield Spring Fest, starting this Friday May 15th and running through Sunday May 17th.

I saw a sign as I was driving through the downtown area this weekend with the dates and times:

Friday May 15th from 4:00 -midnight
Saturday May 16th from 10:00-midnight
Sunday May 17th from 12:00- 6:00 pm

Now don’t quote me on the times I’ve posted here… I was driving at the time, but I’m pretty sure this is what I stored in my brain from my photographic memory!

There will be a carnival, a craft show, food vendors, a beer garden, and live entertainment. One of my favorite booths had always been the fresh strawberry shortcake stand, but I haven’t seen it there for the past 3 years. I remember when we first moved to Plainfield that this Spring Fest was once called the Plainfield Strawberry Festival. I wonder why they changed the name, and where did those delicious strawberry shortcakes go?

Here is the schedule of events for the 2009 Plainfield IL Spring Fest:

Friday, May 15th
6:00-9:30pm Plainfield’s Biggest Open Mic Jam
9:30 -11:30pm Echo Son

Saturday, May 16th
11am - ATL Youth Cheerleaders
12:30 Elite Martial Arts
1:30-3:30pm Hot Hot Robot
4:00-6:00pm 40 Miles to Chicago
6:30-8:30pm The Catch
9:00-11:30pm Velocity

Sunday, May 17th
12:00-2:30pm The Debe Welch Band
3:00-6:00pm Beat Apple

If you’re able to make it out there this weekend, have fun! I know we are looking forward to it. The Plainfield Springfest is being supported by the MainStreet Plainfield Organization and it’s sponsors.

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield IL Homes for Sale
630-673-6233

Rented Properties in Plainfield IL for April 2009 | Plainfield IL Rental Homes

Julie Ferenzi (CENTURY 21 Hometown) — Tue, 05 May 2009 22:19:34 -0500

In hopes of keeping my readers up to date on the rental market in Plainfield IL, I will start listing the properties that have rented month by month. Hopefully this will give anyone considering a rental home in Plainfield IL an idea of the price ranges of homes available for rent.

The following properties rented in Plainfield IL in the month of April 2009:

2 Bedrooms Single Family Plainfield IL Rental Homes:

13918 S. Oakdale Ct. rented for $1,200
2414 Millpond Ct. rented for $1,230
5007 Elmira Ct. rented for $1,300
16250 Fairfield Dr. rented for $1,350
5102 Edgewater Ct. rented for $1,395
21316 W. Douglas Ln. rented for $1,500
13212 Lake Mary Dr. rented for $2,100

3 Bedroom Single Family Plainfield IL Rental Homes:

14052 Edgewater Ln. rented for $1,275
5520 Stonybrook rented for $1,275
21512 S. Empress rented for $$1,300
14219 S. Napa Cir. rented for $1,300
4920 Montauk Dr. rented for $1,375
21252 Edison Ln. rented for $1,395
23814 Mistwood Dr. rented for $1,400
14624 Samuel Adams Dr. rented for $1,500
2018 Alpine Way rented for $1,550
5307 Riviera Blvd. rented for $1,595
1304 Broadlawn Dr. rented for $1,700
12925 Tipperary Ln. rented for $2,175

4 Bedroom Single Family Plainfield IL Rental Homes:

1617 Brighton Ln. rented for $1,625
2817 Stonebridge Dr. rented for $1,850
6307 Ventura Ct. rented for $2,000
13358 Wellesley Ct. rented for $2,250

If you or someone you know are thinking of renting a home in Plainfield IL call me at 630-673-6233. I’ve been working the rental market in Plainfield IL since the beginning of the real estate market decline. I’ve placed 7 families in rental properties in the last 2 months. No one works harder when it comes to placing families into new homes!

If you are behind in payments you may qualify for a loan modification or a short sale. Contact me to find out if you might qualify for one of these options to avoid a foreclosure.

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield IL Homes for Sale
630-673-6233

Plainfield IL Short Sale Information | Plainfield IL Homes for Sale

Julie Ferenzi (CENTURY 21 Hometown) — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 21:58:14 -0500

Short sales offer a pretty fair discount on single family homes in the area and right now there are many homes in Plainfield IL available to chose from, but the banks aren’t going to give them away for pennies on the dollar.

Here are a few things you can expect when writing an offer on homes that require 3rd party lender approval:

Short sales take time. If you are not willing or able to wait the 6-10 weeks required for lender approval, a short sale is probably not the right choice for you.
The lower the price, the less likely your offer is to be accepted. The further your offer is from the list price on the MLS, the less interested the bank will be in your offer.
Be prepared to submit a counter offer. Lenders always counter the original offer, so be prepared to increase the ante, even by a little or the lender will close the file and wait for another offer.
Cash offers don’t always entice lenders. If the offer is too low, it doesn’t matter how it is financed or paid for.
The homeowner is still in control of all decisions regarding the property, with the exception of requiring lender approval to sell the home for less than what is owed. The submission of all offers to the bank is at the discretion of the homeowner, not the Realtor® or bank.
A general rule of thumb for acceptance on a short sale is about 70-80% of the fair market value. The lender will order a Brokers Price Opinion or BPO on the property to determine fair market value. While the bank will usually not disclose the determination of that report, I can provide a market analysis of the area and provide a reasonable value for the property.

If you are buyer or investor looking for a great deal on Plainfield IL real estate, call me at 630-673-6233 for your complimentary list of short sale listings available now.

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield IL Homes for Sale
630-673-6233

Plainfield IL Townhome and Duplex Real Estate Values 2008 & 2009 | Plainfield IL Homes for Sale

Julie Ferenzi (CENTURY 21 Hometown) — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 21:51:22 -0500

With all of the news on t.v. and talk on the radio, you might be wondering how the value of your Plainfield IL townhouse or duplex is doing. Many homeowners today are keeping a close eye on their Plainfield IL property values with good cause.

While there is definitely depreciation going on in the market, there are other factors contributing to the health of the Plainfield town home and duplex market.

The volume of sales for the attached single family market in Plainfield IL is down drastically from March of 2008 when compared to March of 2009 by approximately 72%. There has also been an increase in market times of about 26% for those sales on average, meaning it’s taking about 26% longer to sell 72% less homes.

The townhome and duplex market in Plainfield IL has suffered an approximate 19% decrease in property value on average in March 2008, when compared to the same month in 2009.

Homes are still sold at approximately 95% of their asking price in both 2008 and 2009, meaning that for reasonably priced townhomes or duplexes, homeowners could expect to get about 95% of their list price and concede about 5% in the process of negotiation.

Plainfield IL Townhome and Duplex Market Data For March 2008:

Plainfield IL Townhome and Duplex Market Data for March 2009:

If you or someone you know has a property to sell in Plainfield IL, call me at 630-673-6233.

If you are behind in payments or in foreclosure, you may qualify for a loan modification or short sale. Call me to confidentially discuss the possibility of avoiding a foreclosure through one of these options.

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield IL Homes for Sale
630-673-6233

Plainfield IL Foreclosures | Plainfield IL Homes

Julie Ferenzi (CENTURY 21 Hometown) — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 21:45:04 -0500

Comparing the 4th quarter of 2008 to the first quarter of 2009 in Plainfield IL:

There were 197 new filings in the 4th quarter of 2008, compared to the 250 filings in the first quarter of 2009 for an increase between the quarters of 21.2%.

In comparing the number of newly filed foreclosures in Plainfield IL from the 1st quarter of 2007, 2008, and 2009 there is a steady increase in the number of foreclosures each year.

1st Quarter Figures for newly filed single family Plainfield IL foreclosures by year:

2007: 116 new filings
2008: 218 new filings
2009: 250 new filings

There was a 12.8% increase in foreclosures from 2008 to 2009
There was a 46.8% increase in foreclosure from 2007 to 2008

As you can see from these figures, Plainfield has not seen the bottom of this market yet, though it does seem to be slowing down. The second quarter of 2009 will paint a better picture of the trajectory of the market, and the time frame in which we can expect to see a recovery in the market values of Plainfield IL.

Subscribe to my site through e-mail subscription and never miss a post. Stay tuned for more Plainfield IL market reports.

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield IL Homes
630-673-6233

New Construction Home Sales in Plainfield IL | Plainfield IL Homes

Julie Ferenzi (CENTURY 21 Hometown) — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 21:42:37 -0500

Many analysts believe the number of new home sales is an indicator of the health of the real estate market. Today I contacted the Village of Plainfield to get some figures on the number of permits requested by new home builders in Plainfield IL.

New permits issued for new construction:

2007 = 404 permits
2008 = 172 permits

In the last 6 months only 26 new permits were requested through the village. As you can see there has been a drastic reduction in the amount of permits that have been applied for between 2007 and 2008, which shows a decrease of 57.5%.

Subscribe to my site through e-mail subscription and never miss a post. Stay tuned for more Plainfield IL market reports.

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield IL Homes
630-673-6233

Be still.

Julie Ferenzi (CENTURY 21 Hometown) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 00:00:17 -0500

I never stop moving and I'm always on the go. I feel compelled to propel myself forward even when every ounce of my being wants to throw it in reverse. When there is peace in my world, I often invite chaos. I've never slowed down long enough to ever question why, although I think I know the answer. When you are busy, you don't have time to be disappointed or let down. You don't have time to analyze or assess the possibility of failure.

Being just 8.5 weeks from delivering my 5th child, I collapsed on the couch. It wasn't a choice... it was completely involuntary. I knew it couldn't last long; I had to pack up the kids and show 3 houses in less than 30 minutes, but as I sat there I heard a voice in my head that said, "Be still."

"What? Be still? Yeah, right. Like that's going to happen! Don't you know how busy I've been? I can't stop, there's too much to do. Be still... what is that supposed to mean anyway?"

Then I realized I was talking to myself. Well, thinking to myself at any rate, but either way I was having a conversation with myself in my head.

Just as I was about question my own sanity, my normally rambunctious 2 year old climbed in my lap and quietly cuddled in my arms. He whispered his ABC's to me and then sat next to me in silence for about 10 minutes, and no... he wasn't sleeping :)

Nothing could have been more important to me at that moment. I wonder how many more moments like this I have missed because I have simply never allowed myself to not be busy? Too many I am certain.

I never want to wonder what I might have missed out on again.

Nothing is more important than the moment in front of you right now. The road ahead will be there when you're done taking in the scenery from your vantage point on the trail.

Be still.

The 1st Quarter Naperville IL Real Estate Market Report | Naperville IL Homes

Julie Ferenzi (CENTURY 21 Hometown) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 22:21:43 -0500

The 1st quarter numbers for the single-family Naperville IL market are in:

In the first quarter of this year, 145 single-family homes were sold.

The average list price for a single-family home in Naperville is $436,662. The average sale price is $405,476. Based on these numbers if you are selling a home in Naperville IL you can expect to get about 93% of your asking price in this market.

Homes with 4 bedrooms made up 66.2% of the homes sold in the first 3 months of 2009, while homes with 3 bedrooms made up about 24.1% of the market share.

4 bedroom homes are selling at about 93% of the average list price of $455,102, which means they are selling for an average closed price of $424,604.

3 bedroom homes are selling at about 94% of the average list price of $290,046 for a single-family home in Naperville, which means they are closing at an average closed sale price of $272,886.

5 bedroom single-family homes in Naperville only make up about 7.5% of the total sales. The 5 bedroom homes are only getting about 89% of their average list price of $770,495 for an average sale price of $689,500.

If you, or someone you know are thinking about listing your home for sale in Naperville IL this Spring call me at 630-673-6233.

If you are behind in payments you may qualify for a short sale or loan modification. Call me to confidentially discuss your options regarding foreclosure.

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Naperville IL Homes
630-673-6233

Plainfield IL 1st Quarter Single Family Market Report | Plainfield IL Homes

Julie Ferenzi (CENTURY 21 Hometown) — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 23:12:54 -0500

The 1st quarter Plainfield IL single family market report is now available. I have interpreted this information has been taken directly from the MLS. In a follow up post I will compare and contrast the 1st quarter of 2008 and 2009.

In the first 3 months of 2009, 157 single family homes sold in Plainfield IL. Homes are currently selling at 95% of their asking price in 167 days on average.

100 of the 157 homes that sold this quarter were 4 bedroom homes, which was 63% of the market share of the homes sold. There were only 9 Plainfield IL homes that sold, but those home sold at about 96% of their asking price, up 1% from the total average. The average market time on the 5 bedroom homes were about 26% higher than the total average of 167 days.

Plainfield IL 1st Quarter Single Family Market Report for 2009

If you, or someone you know are thinking about listing your home for sale in Plainfield IL this Spring call me at 630-673-6233.

If you are behind in payments you may qualify for a short sale or loan modification. Call me to confidentially discuss your options regarding foreclosure.

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield IL Homes
630-673-6233

The Bolingbrook IL Single Family 1st Quarter Single Family Market Report for 2009 | Bolingbrook IL Homes

Julie Ferenzi (CENTURY 21 Hometown) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 00:10:53 -0500

The numbers are in for the Bolingbrook IL 1st quarter single family market.

There were 87 single family Bolingbrook IL homes that sold during the first quarter of 2009 from January 1st through March 31st. 42% of the homes sold were 3 bedroom homes and the 4 bedroom home market accounted for 47% of the market share.

The average sale price of a 3 bedroom home in Bolingbrook is $166,419 which is 93% of the average asking price. 93% is lower than the average list to sale price ratio of some neighboring communities like Plainfield IL where sellers of 3 bedroom family homes are getting about 95% of their asking price.

In contrast, sellers in the 4 bedroom market in Bolingbrook IL are getting about 96% of their list price which is $248,651 on average. Even more surprising is that the 5 bedroom market is getting 98% of their average list price. The average list time on a 5 bedroom home in Bolingbrook is only 40 days. This tells me that 5 bedroom Bolingbrook IL homes are in fairly high demand.

One interesting thing about the Bolingbrook market is the difference the average price between 4 to 5 bedroom homes which is only 7.2%, while the difference in the average price between a 3 and 4 bedroom home is about 30%.

The 1st Quarter Bolingbrook IL Market Report:

If you or someone you know are thinking about buying or selling a home in Bolingbrook IL, call me at 630-673-6233.

If you are behind in your mortgage payments, you may qualify for a short sale or loan modification to avoid a foreclosure. Call me for a confidential conversation regarding foreclosure and your options.

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Bolingbrook IL Homes
630-673-6233

Some of The Strangest Search Terms That Will Apparently Lead You To My Website

Julie Ferenzi (CENTURY 21 Hometown) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 09:50:32 -0500

I've really been focusing on directing traffic to my website, so this morning I was looking at the backside of my website to see what search terms people are using to find my site. What I found was not only pretty funny, it reminded me of the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon. I guess your only 6 degrees from just about anything... no matter how ridiculous!

Recent Search Terms That Will Take You To www.LivingInPlainfield.com:

illegal dolls without human faces (this shows up several time on the backside... who knew so many people had an interest in this?!)
play-dough flavored ice-cream
museum of kids... followed by "museum of children" (this wouldn't be half as disturbing if it actually read "museum for kids")
cut the grass
family shadow
free birthday meals
trick or treat

Of course there were many more real estate related terms but these were the ones that jumped off the page as strange to me. Now, the interesting thing is that my hyper-local Plainfield IL website contains a lot of community and non-real estate related information. I am 100% positive that is why you can get to my site from this string of seemingly unrelated search terms. On the other hand, the search terms for my other website: www.ChicagoRealEstatePlainfieldHomes.com are being directed strictly from real estate related terms. I went 20 pages back and didn't find a single word that wasn't somehow related to real estate in my area.

The difference between my two sites is the reason I write for each one. The Plainfield site is kind of a "welcome to the neighborhood" type platform. It's all about why you'd want to live here, and what Plainfield has to offer. I have tried to make myself more of a resource in the community and that sometimes includes talking about things other than real estate.

My Chicago real estate site has been and will always be strictly about real estate. It's my broader outreach to the cities beyond my farm area. I have never written about anything other than real estate which is why the only way you can get to that site is by searching for words that are somehow related to real estate.

I guess I can trace a long line from those crazy search terms loosely to posts I've written on my Plainfield site, but it's interesting to see what people are looking for when they end up at your own front door!

Plainfield IL March 2009 Market Report | Plainfield IL Homes

Julie Ferenzi (CENTURY 21 Hometown) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:42:07 -0500

The Spring real estate is in full swing. What can Plainfield IL home sellers expect to see in this market?

To start, volume of single family detached home sales in Plainfield IL this March is down by about 11% compared to the same time last year, while the depreciation in the price of single family detached home market is up by about 17.2%. Single family homes in March of 2009 are selling for about 17.2% less than they did just 12 months prior, on average.

The average sale price of a Plainfield IL home was about $280,133 last year, compared to $232,056 in March of this year. The good news is that Plainfield IL homeowners who have sold have gotten about 96% of their asking price on average. That means if you house if your home is not over-priced, you should expect to receive about 96% of your total asking price, and that sellers are only having to make about 4% concessions during negotiation.

3 bedroom single family homes suffered a 16% total average depreciation from last year, while 4 bedroom Plainfield IL homes decreased in value by about 24% on average. In contrast, single family 5 or more bedroom homes increased in value by about 9.6% on average.

Market times in Plainfield IL are down about 20% when comparing March 2008 to March 2009, meaning they are selling in about 20% less time than they did last March, which is great news for anyone selling a home in Plainfield IL!

March 2008 Single Family Real Estate Market Statistics:

March 2009 Single Family Real Estate Market Statistics:

If you, or someone you know are thinking about listing your home for sale in Plainfield IL this Spring call me at 630-673-6233.

If you are behind in payments you may qualify for a short sale or loan modification. Call me to confidentially discuss your options regarding foreclosure.

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield IL Homes
630-673-6233

Plainfield Short Sales and Loan Modifications | Plainfield IL Homes

Julie Ferenzi (CENTURY 21 Hometown) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:37:36 -0500

Many Plainfield IL homeowners are facing the possibility of foreclosure. The thought of losing the roof over your head is a scary concept, especially if you are worried about the well being of your family and their future.

If you are facing foreclosure in Plainfield IL and don’t know what steps to take to either proceed with a short sale or attempt a loan modification, call me to explore the possibility of negotiating on your behalf.

Why is what I do different from what other Realtors® are doing in regard to short sales in Plainfield IL?

If there is any possibility of having you keep your home, my loan modification negotiator will begin the process of a loan modification to utilize the option of a short sale as a last resort, unless it’s your preference to attempt a short sale right from the beginning. I feel much better listing a home in foreclosure knowing that every attempt was made to keep the homeowner in the home.

There are qualifying criteria required to perform not only a short sale, but a loan modification as well. Call me to discuss the possibility of avoiding a foreclosure through either selling your home through a short sale, or by re-negotiating your debt through a loan modification at 630-673-6233.

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield IL Homes
630-673-6233

This post is worth 50,000 points.... YAHOO!

Julie Ferenzi (CENTURY 21 Hometown) — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 00:51:01 -0500

It only took me a little over two years to finally get to that big 50K marker!

Actually, I probably could have gotten here a long time ago if I hadn't quit blogging last summer after I switched brokerages. I really don't know why I ever stopped blogging except that I was overwhelmed with the change and was consumed by learning all of the new things that were coming my way. The crazy thing is that after coming back after such a long hiatus, it only took me about a month to get get back into the swing of things.

I'm an old-timer here on Active Rain though you probably wouldnt' know it. When I first started blogging I had no idea what I was doing when I participated in Project Blogger. I was a new agent, in addition to being a new blogger. Blogging has been the only lead generation system I have ever used as an agent.

So in my 50,000 commemorative post I have a few people that I'd like to mention who have inspired and coached me here on Active Rain:

First and foremost... Jeff Turner. Without Jeff and his invitation to Active Rain I never would have known about this powerful community. Jeff chose me out of everyone he knew in real estate at the time to participate in Project Blogger and I can't thank him enough. He took me under his wing and tried to teach me everything he knew about blogging and SEO. He gave me a fabulous website that is now on the first page of Google for most of my keywords. Not only that, but he and his wife are two of the most generous and passionate people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. If you haven't already you HAVE to try Real Estate Shows!
Sally "Celeste" Cheeseman because she's "a little of this" and a "little of that". She's posts about her local area but also engages the AR community. PLUS, she's from Hawaii :o)
Broker Bryant and TLW. They've been around since the beginning and they always make life here in The Rain a little more fun. If it weren't for TLW's snarky comments and witty remarks this place wouldn't be nearly as fun.
Midori Miller because she's just awesome. She's kind and compassionate, and her posts are always positively inspiring.
Sarah Cooper Superstar! I was often encouraged to read Sarah's posts during Project Blogger because she had it right all along. She's engaging, witty and most of all... authentic.
Jennifer Allan and her ingenious Sell With Soul! I'm so not a sales person, and Jennifer helped me take the "ick" out of sales, for someone who's not comfortable being a "sales person".

Of course there are others that have inspired me along the way, but it's way past late.

So now that I'm officially over the hill I can't wait to post the next big milestone. I just hope it doesn't take me another 2 years to get there! I know better than that now, and you know what? That self-induced hiatus was the biggest lull in doing business that I've had since I've been an agent. I will never make that mistake again!

Recent Closings in the Eagle Ridge Subdivision in Plainfield IL | Plainfield IL Homes

Julie Ferenzi (CENTURY 21 Hometown) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 23:47:58 -0500

The following homes have recently closed in the Eagle Ridge subdivision in Plainfield IL:

October 2008

5710 Brosam Ln. closed on 10/17/08 for $235,000

November 2008

1401 Martin Ct. closed on 11/17/08 for $160,000 as a short sale
5708 Brosam Ln. closed on 11/26/08 for $175,000 as a short sale

January 2009

1414 Meyer Ct. closed on 1/2/09 for $222,000

The Eagle Ridge Subdivision is located off of River Rd and Theodore just west of Rt.59 in Plainfield IL. The neighborhood is part of the Troy school district. There is a $130 Homeowners Association fee that is paid once yearly. Eagle Ridge was originally developed by Phoenix homes and features two large ponds stocked for fishing, as well as a neighborhood park.

If you, or someone you know are interested in buying, selling, or renting a home in the Eagle Ridge subdivision, call me at 630-673-6233.

If you are behind in your payments, call me to confidentially discuss your options regarding foreclosure. You may qualify for a short sale or loan modification.

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield IL Homes
630-673-6233

The Host by Stephenie Meyer, and why it's not as creepy for me to read teen romance novels...

Julie Ferenzi (CENTURY 21 Hometown) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 23:31:24 -0500

I'd been trying to get into The Host by Stephenie Meyer for a few weeks now, (okay, months!) and I was finally able to make it to the 1/4 mark this week and I'm now sucked in. My husband bought it for me for Valentine's Day, and while the chocolate that had accompanied the extremely thoughtful gift is long since gone, the book sat quietly on the shelf waiting for me to pick it up.

I'm not sure if it was because of the expectation I set for it due to my love of the Twilight series, but it was really hard for me to connect to the main character. Maybe because the main character has a dual identity, or because the initial story line is not based on reality as we know it?

Has anyone else read this book? Did you have the same trouble I had getting into it?

One thing I will say though, I feel a lot less like a creepy old mom reading a teen romance novel now that I don't feel like gushing about Edward and Bella to anyone that would listen.

Recent Closings in the Hampton Glen Subdivision in Plainfield IL | Plainfield IL Homes

Julie Ferenzi (CENTURY 21 Hometown) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 22:11:54 -0500

The following single family properties have recently closed in the Hampton Glen subdivision in Plainfield IL:

February 2009

1308 Bridgehampton Dr. closed on 2/25/09 for $141,000 as a short sale

December 2008

5202 Pontigo Glen Dr. closed on 12/05/08 for $193,000 as a short sale

October 2008

1409 Bridgehampton Dr. closed on 10/15/08 for $225,000

September 2008

5105 Gardiner Glen Dr. closed on 9/25/08 for $195,000 as a short sale

The following towhomes have recently closed in the neighborhood:

March 2009

5130 Freeport Ct. closed on 3/2/09 for $173,000

November 2008

5005 Norwalk Ct. closed on 11/24/08 for $129,000 as an REO
5110 Williston Ct. closed on 11/25/08 for $153,500
5102 Edgewater Ct. closed on 11/7/08 for $176,000

The Hampton Glen subdivision is located on Theodore Rd. just west of Rt. 59 near the Shorewood Wal-Mart and Family Video. The subdivision was developed by Centex Homes starting in 2002. There is a homeowners association for both the town house owners and the single family homes. The town homes pay $152 monthly to the association and the annual year assessment for the single family homes is $125.

If you, or someone you know is interested in buying or selling a home in the Hampton Glen subdivision in Plainfield IL, call me at 630-673-6233.

If you are behind in your mortgage payments, call me to confidentially discuss your options regarding foreclosure. You may qualify for a short sale or loan modification.

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield IL Homes
630-673-6233

Gatlinburg TN is a great place to visit!

Julie Ferenzi (CENTURY 21 Hometown) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 22:06:17 -0500

This week we returned from our 4 day road trip to Gatlinburg TN and back. This was our 3rd year in a row traveling to the Great Smoky Mountains and it was just a beautiful the 3rd time as it was the first time I saw them.

Vacations are definitely more difficult with a 2 year old in tow, but couple that with 3 other kids deep in the throws of sibling rivalry, a mom 7 months pregnant for the 5th time, and a dad who is used to the sweet retreat of a 9-5 day job, and you have the makings of a Griswald family vacation!

What doesn't kill you on a road trip... will make for the stories that become well-told family folklore :)

I won't go in to the gory details of the vacation that almost put all of us in the funny farm, but I will share some of my favorite photos from the beautiful Smoky Mountains in Gatlinburg TN.

If you get a chance to take a road trip this summer, I highly recommend making your way through Gatlinburg. It's quite breathtaking, especially coming from the flat farmland of the midwest!

I'm sorry, but NO you can't use my new home as your storage unit.

Julie Ferenzi (CENTURY 21 Hometown) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 19:34:45 -0500

I had a lease agreement written for a great couple that I've been working with for a couple of months now. There were a few credit issues, but nothing recently and most of it was medical due to the fact that they had a very sick child. The security deposit on the house was 2 months rent plus a pet deposit which brought the total to move in to $7,100! The security was $4,400 plus $500 for the dog, and then of course the $2,200 for the first months rent. My clients income was more than enough to cover the monthly rent and their intention was to purchase the home in a years time.

After all of the paperwork was signed they were all set to move in on May 1st... until the agent e-mailed me a list of addendum's that had never been discussed. Everything was pretty standard except for the line that stated that the owner would be allowed to store personal boxes and belongings in the basement for an undetermined amount of time. The addendum did not list the items or disclose the date at which they would be removed.

My clients felt that for the amount of money that they had invested in this rental that their new home should not be used as a storage unit, and I agreed. Initially we had discussed that because they had wanted to take possession earlier than the homeowner was willing to move out, that if it could be arranged that she could come back and get the things that she couldn't move before they moved in... and by come back, we meant within a week or two.

When I asked the agent to remove that line from the addendum's, she said that her owner didn't want to pay to rent a storage unit and that she wanted to leave a corner of the basement filled with boxes until August 1st. My clients said no way, and the homeowner refused to take the items from the home. She said that she was already losing money on the house by having to rent it for $2,200 per month. Um... too bad, not our problem.

I have no idea why this woman chose to rent out her house well before she was ready or wiling to move out, and why she refused to take her things with her?!

Just when I thought I'd found a solution to slow real estate sales, I discovered one of the many bumps in the road for renters. My clients chose to take their security deposit back and find another property.

We are back to the drawing board... but I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, and I just know that we'll find the place they were meant to call home tomorrow! Wish us luck.

I got a little Botox for my website, thanks to my husband.

Julie Ferenzi (CENTURY 21 Hometown) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 14:27:52 -0500

I'm not a graphic designer by any means, but blogging has definitely brought me closer to my innner "techie". I'm proud of the things I do know how to do, but after several meager attempts at designing a header on my own, I asked my husband to revamp my Wordpress website from way back in the day of Project Blogger.

Why didn't I ask him a long time ago? Mmm, I really don't know. Okay, it's because I'm stubborn... like a 2 year old, I wanted to "do it myself"!

So, I'm pretty excited to launch the new look of the site on the heels of my big office change back to Century 21. Things are going well and I'm looking forward to the pace of the Spring Market after a long and snowy Chicago winter!

Take a look at what my talented hubby spent his night doing last night. I know he loves me... he did this during "Must See T.V. on NBC". That's love.

www.LivingInPlainfield.com